Laetitia and her group headed northeast from Miramichi. Their first destination was Mount Carlton, the highest point in New Brunswick (2,680 feet). After spending most of the morning hiking there, they moved on to Jacquet River Gorge, a photogenic natural area featuring stunning views of waterfalls and abundant wildlife. That evening they arrived in Bathurst, a harbor town situated on the estuary of the Nepisiguit River. The portion of the latter from Mount Carlton to Bathurst is a favorite of canoeists, although it has some dangerous rapids. Originally called Nepisiguit, and later St. Peter, Bathurst was a paper mill town for much of its early life. Today it’s a popular tourist destination with excellent beaches, sightseeing, and bird-watching opportunities.
At Laetitia’s usual afternoon happy hour sojourn, she watched a young man at the other end of the bar. His face told a story. His lips were moving as he made sidelong glances toward a table of young women having an afternoon drink at a corner table. Then his smile faded as they abruptly finished their drinks and left. Laetitia turned her interpretation of the event into the limerick of the day.
The young man believed he was cursed
When the table of women dispersed
While he was immersed
In the speech he rehearsed
At a bar in the town of Bathhurst.